Photo: YantsImages / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
For my money, Park Chan-wook is the most complete stylist working in cinema today. Plenty of directors can shock; almost none can make cruelty look this exquisitely composed. What fascinates me is the moral seriousness beneath the violence — his vengeance films ask whether revenge can ever restore a person, and his answer is devastating. The festival haul from Cannes to Venice only confirms what Oldboy made obvious two decades ago. I also love that he keeps evolving instead of imitating himself. Every frame feels deliberate, almost handwritten. He raised the ceiling for Korean cinema, and honestly, for everyone else too.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Park Chan-wook
- Name (Japanese)
- パク・チャヌク
- Reading
- ぱく・ちゃぬく
- Born
- August 23, 1963 (age 62)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Rabbit
- Origin
- Seoul, South Korea
- Height
- 2 cm
- Occupation
- screenwriter / film director / film producer / film critic / director
2. Background
- University
- Sogang University
Awards & achievements
- 2005 Golden Lion
- 2004 Grand Jury Prize of the Venice Film Festival
- 2009 Jury Prize
- 2004 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix
- 2004 Sitges Film Festival Best Feature-Length Film award
- 2007 Sitges Film Festival Best Screenplay award
- 2022 Cannes Best Director Award
- Grand Bell Awards
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Sympathy for Lady Vengeance | — | |
| Notable work | Oldboy | — | |
| Notable work | Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance | — | |
| Notable work | Joint Security Area | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Park Chan-wook born?
Born August 23, 1963 (age 62).
Where is Park Chan-wook from?
Park Chan-wook is from Seoul, South Korea.
What does Park Chan-wook do?
Park Chan-wook works as screenwriter, film director, film producer, film critic, director.
How tall is Park Chan-wook?
Park Chan-wook is 2 cm.
What is Park Chan-wook known for?
Notable works include Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.
Screenwriter — see all → · Film director — see all → · More people from South Korea →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.